20 Small Kitchen Makeovers You Won't Believe

See how our favorite designers transformed 20 small kitchens into gorgeous and functional spaces.

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By: Maria Conti and Keri Sanders

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Photo By: Ty Cole

Photo By: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

Photo By: Aubrie Pick

Photo By: Jesse Loftis

Photo By: JEAN STOFFER

Photo By: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

Photo By: Nat Rea

Photo By: Phoebe Chuason

Photo By: Alyssa Rosenheck

Photo By: Jessica Alexander

Photo By: Michael Hunter

Photo By: Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Photo By: Spacecrafting Photography

Photo By: Emily Fazio

Photo By: Photography by Scott Hamilton. Kitchen design by Robin Muto Interiors.

Photo By: Lauren Pressey

Photo By: Michael Robinson

Photo By: Ashley Ausland

Photo By: Marisa Vitale

Photo By: Wendy Raizin

Photo By: Melissa Mitchell

Photo By: Dionel Fisher- The Mittentog

Photo By: Jared Kuzia Photography

Photo By: Bridget Beari Designs, Rob Wright

Photo By: Joe Bernado

Photo By: Melissa Kaseman Photography

Photo By: Andrew D Myers

Photo By: Farah Nosh / Getty Images

Small Kitchens With Big Style

Bigger doesn't always mean better. Small spaces can pack a big punch with the right touch. Take a look at these small kitchens that were renovated with big style.

See More Ideas: 36 Before-and-After Kitchen Makeovers

From: Sarah Jacoby Architects

Before: Builder Grade Basic

Boring, dated cabinets join forces with uninspired laminate countertops in this cramped kitchen. A magnet-clad refrigerator doubles as storage for stray serving trays and bowls, while a pair of powder blue ovens showcase four mismatched dishtowels.

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

After: Elevated + Airy

Soft gray cabinets pair with clean white countertops for a chic, contemporary kitchen. Stainless steel appliances complete the look.

See More Photos: Dramatic Transformations: Bright + Bold Family Home

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

Before: Dated + Dusty

Mint wallpaper and mauve sheers pair with worn, oak furnishings in this dated kitchen breakfast nook. Knickknacks crowd the buffet and windowsills, while a cloudy Tiffany pendant collects dust overhead.

From: Jean Stoffer

After: Beaming + Bright

Designer Jean Stoffer takes advantage of the outdated breakfast nook and uses the underutilized space to create a modern eat-in kitchen. An expansive island extends the length of the open-concept kitchen and serves as the focal point of the design. The butcher block island top provides the homeowners a place to both prep and enjoy meals as a family. Stoffer vaults the original ceiling and accentuates its new, soaring height with weathered wood beams for a result that’s at once dramatic and understated.

See More Photos: Dramatic Transformations: Stately English Cottage Home

From: Jean Stoffer

Before: Capsized Coastal Design

Ah, yes. Nothing spells “coastal kitchen” like deep merlot cabinets, butcher block countertops, black appliances and yellow trim, right?

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

After: Breezy Sophistication

Wrong. The design team at DiMauro Architects save this capsizing Rhode Island kitchen from the dark (red) depths of despair with a fresh layout, new appliances and an updated coastal color palette. The once cramped kitchen is now open and inviting with creamy white cabinets, integrated appliances, handsome millwork and sandy stone countertops. An antique wooden fish looms above the charming apron front sink, adding a pop of coastal flair to the design.

See More Photos: Dramatic Transformations: Charming Bungalow on the Coast

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

Before: Untapped Potential

This 1960s kitchen leaves much to be desired with its dark cabinets, dingy tile countertops and unsightly shades that hide a soaring feature window.

From: Natalie Myers

After: Midcentury, Modernized

Let there be light! Designer Natalie Meyers removed the dingy shades and highlighted the striking architectural window as the focal point of the space. Meyers celebrates the home's midcentury lines with streamlined white oak cabinets, white Caesarstone quartz countertops and modern, stainless steel appliances. A glazed backsplash wraps the room's perimeter with texture, while a woven pendant and sputnik sconce illuminate the space from overhead.

See More Photos: Before + Afters: Light & Airy L.A. Home

From: Natalie Myers

Before: Charming Bones

This bungalow kitchen boasts good bones with its sweet marigold walls and creamy cabinets. Though charming, the historic space comes up short on both the style and functionality desired in modern family households.

From: Vernich Interiors

After: Timeless in Black + White

Vernich Interiors enlivens this old kitchen with a reimagined layout and a timeless black and white color palette. Vernich knocks down walls to open the kitchen to the living room and creates an inviting gathering space for family and friends. Crisp shiplapped wraps the walls and ceiling and classic bungalow-style trim frames the iron windows. A retro-style stove and a black lacquered range hood anchor the kitchen, while darling buffalo check shades and striped drapes create cohesion throughout the open-concept design.

See More Photos: Chic Remodeled Cottage

From: Vernich Interiors

Before: Wrapped in Wood

Orange you glad this kitchen gets a makeover? Yeah, us too. The honey-toned oak floors, cabinetry and trim stifles the space and begs for a serious facelift.

From: Natalie Myers

After: Welcoming White

Fresh, airy and oh-so-beautiful – it’s hard to believe this updated galley kitchen is the same space. Natalie Meyers transforms the space with bright shiplapped walls, soft gray cabinets and light maple flooring. Oak-framed French doors and windows are the only remnant of the original space and bring a welcoming warmth into the otherwise light design.

See More Photos: Beach Bungalow Gets a Coastal Chic Makeover

From: Natalie Myers

Before: Blank Canvas

This kitchen is as lackluster as they come. The dull design features white walls, white cabinets, black counters, recessed lighting and a wonky layout that sucks the joy out of cooking.

From: Laura U Design Collective

After: Transitional Approach

Lackluster, no more! Designer Laura Umansky layers textures and mixes finishes to create an enviable kitchen design that promises to stand the test of time. Umansky employs a traditional, triangular layout in the space to make meal prep easier than ever. Bonus? The new layout creates three natural focal points in the space: the stainless-steel sink, designer range and built-in refrigerator. Classic, honed marble floors and shaker-style cabinetry bring sophisticated, transitional flair to the once minimal space.

See More Photos: Stately Houston Tudor Revival Style Home Undergoes a Modern Update

From: Laura U Design Collective

Before: Small + Sad

Fact: This kitchen is small (okay, tiny) in scale, but huge in potential.

From: Zoe Feldman Design

After: Packed With Panache

A stunning marble countertop and subtle gray backsplash joins white Shaker style cabinetry and black stainless appliances. The range hood surround is painted to match the wall color, a delicate pink, and a midcentury frosted globe light is a lovely accompaniment to the gold cabinet pulls. This small kitchen does not sacrifice style because of its small layout.

See More Photos: Bland Condominium Gets Eye-Popping, Ultra Feminine Makeover

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Before: Shadowy + Cluttered

This outdated kitchen lacks style, storage and natural sunlight. Cleaning supplies litter the limited counter space, while mesh strainers dangle from upper cabinets, adding clutter above the shadowy sink.

From: Martha O'Hara Interiors

After: Storage + Sunlight Aplenty

Storage and sunlight are in high supply in this redesigned kitchen. Martha O’Hara Interiors knocks down walls to welcome light from the adjoining dining room's windows. A grand island with light countertops anchors the open-concept kitchen and provides a practical space to prep and serve meals for the entire family. Classic white uppers paired with dove gray lower cabinets line the kitchen walls. A designer series stainless steel range, gold hardware and luxe light fixtures round out the space with glamour.

See More Photos: Charming Tudor-Style Home Features Jewel Tone Accents

From: Martha O'Hara Interiors

Before: Midcentury Bones

This 1950s kitchen is a mixed bag with its original midcentury cabinet doors and layout paired with salmon painted cabinet frames and “updated” appliances.

After: Modern Family Midcentury

Robin Muto Interiors celebrates the 1950s kitchen with an energized and updated midcentury design befitting of a modern family. The original cabinets and peninsula are replaced by streamlined oak lower cabinets and an impressive white quartz island. The custom cabinets bring iconic midmod flair to the kitchen design, by way of their natural oak, orange, marigold and avocado green fronts.

Before: Total Bore

Preparing family meals is a thankless chore in this cramped and dreary kitchen. The white cabinets and dingy laminate counters appear grimy no matter how often the homeowners clean them, while the “decorative” scallop accent, above the sink, dates the entire design.

From: Ashley Ausland

After: Quietly Beautiful

Designer Ashely Ausland’s removed the wall where the stove was before and pushed the kitchen out an additional 3 feet to create an expansive kitchen design. Ausland outfits the newly enlarged space with white shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances and a grand, wooden kitchen island with barstool seating. A classic white subway tile backsplash and built-in ledge are installed, in lieu of upper cabinets, to enlarge the space visually and draw attention to the custom range hood.

See More Photos: A Modern, Rustic Gem With a Chef's Kitchen

From: Ashley Ausland

Before: Shadowy Galley

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a kitchen that’s less inviting than this dreary design. Not only is the kitchen a tight place to maneuver around, but the dark cabinets and dated granite counters aren’t doing the space any favors.

From: Michael Abraham

After: Striking Eat-In Design

The difference between the remodel and the original kitchen is night and day. Designer Michael Abraham transforms the dark and shadowy galley into a fresh and sunny eat-in. This new kitchen boasts white custom cabinetry, modern appliances, soapstone counters and luxurious glass door display cases. A large stone-topped island offers prep space aplenty and seating for six.

See More Photos: Dramatic Transformations: Fresh French Country Home

From: Michael Abraham

Before: Boxed Off

The closed off kitchen with outdated cabinets, countertops and flooring needs a new look to cater to the homeowners' growing family.

From: Ashley Ausland

After: Classic, Kid-Friendly Design

Designer Ashley Ausland knocks down the dated orange cupboards and reimagines the once compartmentalized kitchen into a gorgeous open-concept design. Notable features include a soaring vaulted ceiling, white cabinets and integrated appliances. Best apart? The eye-catching navy island hides scuff marks and infuses color into the space.

See More Photos: Dramatic Transformations: Spacious + Stylish Family Home

From: Ashley Ausland

Before: Awkward Proportions

Cramped and outdated with an island disproportionate to the space? Yes, this kitchen desperately needs a remodel.

From: Wendy Raizin

After: Restaurant-Quality Space

Interior Designer Wendy Raizin transforms this kitchen from a dark space with a tiny island to an expansive meal prep space with a 9-foot island and floating shelving, giving it a casual, modern restaurant feel. In order to compensate for removing the original upper cabinets, Raizin adds custom stainless steel shelves and a wall full of storage.

See More Photos: Dramatic Transformations: Refined Home With Marble Floors

From: Wendy Raizin

Before: Bad Layout + Bulky Soffits

Bulky soffits, crooked cabinet doors and forest green faux-marble countertops call for a total rehaul of this unsightly midcentury kitchen.

From: Susannah Watts

After: Midcentury Marvel

Designer Susannah Watts removes several walls to give plenty of space in this reimagined kitchen. The result is a striking, airy space filled with light and accentuated by color. A large island houses the sink, creating a more logical work triangle with the refrigerator and sink. White surfaces reflect natural sunlight, improving the shadowy space.

See More Photos: Midcentury Rancher Gets a Modern, Colorful Update

From: Susannah Watts

Before: Awkward Angles

This narrow kitchen and breakfast nook has modest space to work with and this abstract peninsula isn’t doing the room any favors. The awkward feature obstructs the flow of the room, creating visual bulk in the design.

From: Kristina Crestin

After: Aqua Flow

Kristina Crestin knocks out the ill-fitting peninsula and puts a custom wooden island in its place. A matching range hood adds warmth overhead and floor-to-ceiling white Shaker style cabinets provide sophisticated storage for cooking supplies. Crestin finishes the space with coastal-inspired aqua pendant lights and robin's egg blue drapes framing the breakfast nook.

See More Photos: Lake House With Colorful Makeover

From: Kristina Crestin

Before: Expired Design

This dated and dark wooden cabinetry kitchen screams late-90s, early-2000s design. The kitchen's dreary cabinetry and awkwardly placed island do not have flow or functionality.

From: Susan Jamieson

After: Imaginative Update

To update a dark and dated kitchen, designer Susan Jamieson opens up the walls into the adjoining sunroom. This expands the space and introduces ample sunlight into the design. Jamieson invites color and whimsy with artful glass orb pendant lights, marigold chair cushions and gray cabinets. Two walnut open shelving units frame the modern range and bring contrasting warmth that shines against the surrounding steely cupboards.

See More Photos: Modern Makeover for Colonial Home

From: Susan Jamieson

Before: Closet Kitchen

This claustrophobic cobalt kitchen is in dire need of a redesign that reflects its farmhouse locale.

From: Lauren Crocco

After: Farm Fresh Charm

Can you believe this charming built-in is in the same spot as the before photo? Designer Lauren Crocco showcases the power of knocking out walls, expanding the cramped space to create a functional, family-friendly kitchen. Crocco adds a few black touches — cabinet and drawer pulls, sconces — that add contrast this creamy kitchen, without detracting a bit from its open, bright feel.

See More Photos: Before-and-After: Tiny Farmhouse Gets a Redesign

From: Lauren Crocco

Before: Rehab Addict

This kitchen had good bones, but water damage warped the lower cabinets, making half the small space unusable.

After: Rehab Addict

As she's known to do, host Nicole Curtis of HGTV's Rehab Addict was able to save the space with new hardwood flooring and gorgeous marble countertops. The new look feels more spacious and is definitely more functional with brand new lower cabinets with a fresh coat of white paint.

Before: Love It or List It, Too

The layout in this kitchen simply wasn't functional, and the fridge was so small that the homeowners had to keep a separate freezer.

From: Jillian Harris

After: Love It or List It, Too

After the makeover, this space is simply divine with stunning white cabinetry, new appliances and an open floor plan that connects the kitchen to the living and dining rooms.

From: Jillian Harris

20 Small Kitchen Makeovers You Won't Believe

Related To:

Shop This Look

Small Kitchens With Big Style

Before: Builder Grade Basic

After: Elevated + Airy

Before: Dated + Dusty

After: Beaming + Bright

Before: Capsized Coastal Design

After: Breezy Sophistication

Before: Untapped Potential

After: Midcentury, Modernized

Before: Charming Bones

After: Timeless in Black + White

Before: Wrapped in Wood

After: Welcoming White

Before: Blank Canvas

After: Transitional Approach

Before: Small + Sad

After: Packed With Panache

Before: Shadowy + Cluttered

After: Storage + Sunlight Aplenty

Before: Midcentury Bones

After: Modern Family Midcentury

Before: Total Bore

After: Quietly Beautiful

Before: Shadowy Galley

After: Striking Eat-In Design

Before: Boxed Off

After: Classic, Kid-Friendly Design

Before: Awkward Proportions

After: Restaurant-Quality Space

Before: Bad Layout + Bulky Soffits

After: Midcentury Marvel

Before: Awkward Angles

After: Aqua Flow

Before: Expired Design

After: Imaginative Update

Before: Closet Kitchen

After: Farm Fresh Charm

Before: Rehab Addict

After: Rehab Addict

Before: Love It or List It, Too

After: Love It or List It, Too

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